World War II Wednesday January 12 2022 1930s

World War II Wednesday, January 12, 2022

• 1930’s – cause of WWII was military aggression by Germany, Italy, and Japan • Hitler wanted to wipe out ‘cancer of democracy’ • All 3 wanted to establish empires and little was done to stop them – All 3 were concerned with depression • Italy upset they didn’t get more land after WWI • Germany upset about the Treaty of Versailles

• 1935 – Italy’s Mussolini attacked Ethiopia (Africa) • League of Nations had no army to stop them • League also failed to prevent Hitler from building up his military and occupying the Rhineland • 1936 – Axis Alliance formed between Germany, Italy & Japan • During this time, U. S. choose a policy of Isolationism • Neutrality Acts – prohibits loaning weapons to countries at war

• Policy of Appeasement • Great Britain and France tried to avoid war with Germany by allowing them to stay in the Rhineland • 1938 – Hitler annexed Austria – to unite German people • Hitler than demanded Sudetenland (NW Czechoslovakia) and threatened world war to get it • Munich Conference – 1938 • Britain and France allowed Hitler the Sudetenland if he promised to stop demanding more property • 1939 – He broke promise and invaded Czechoslovakia

EUROPEAN THEATER OF WAR September 1, 1939 WWII begins: When Hitler invades Poland Blitzkrieg – ‘lightening war’ – columns of tanks and soldiers supported by Airplanes

• US Involvement • FDR soon realized the need for involvement to stop Nazi’s from taking over Europe • 1939 – Congress changed Isolationist policy to allow US to sell weapons to Allies • 1941 – Lend-Lease Act – lend or lease weapons to countries that were important to US interests.

• Over in Japan… PACIFIC THEATER OF WAR • Newly industrialized Japan needed raw materials & fuel • Military leaders pushed for expansionism for markets and resources • 1931 – Japan invaded Manchuria • League of Nations was upset, so Japan withdrew • 1937 – Japan attacked China • Communist and non-communist forces united to fight